A $100M bridge: Traverse City bypass plan emerges from 30-year debate Feb. 19, 2023 To build the bridge, or not build the bridge? That’s been the question in Traverse City for about 30 years. At long last, there’s an answer. Yes. Build the bridge. In Grand Traverse County, officials have…
House bill aims to create lending institution for infrastructure projects
House bill aims to create lending institution for infrastructure projects Feb. 7, 2023 The bank would help finance work such as transportation projects, ports, electric grid security and broadband connectivity, according to the release. The bill also allows for broad discretion by the bank to invest in any infrastructure projects…
First Bitcoin Mining Powered By Nuclear Energy To Open In The U.S. In Q1 This Year
First Bitcoin Mining Powered By Nuclear Energy To Open In The U.S. In Q1 This Year January 23, 2023 Positioning bitcoin mining with carbon-free sources, like nuclear energy, offers enormous benefits to the cryptocurrency industry as digital assets grow in popularity, acceptability, and engagement with the broader economy. World Nuclear…
US Cities Are Falling Out of Love With the Parking Lot
US Cities Are Falling Out of Love With the Parking Lot JAN 7, 2023 They are gray and rectangular, and if you laid all 2 billion of them together they would cover an area roughly the size Connecticut, about 5,500 square miles. Parking lots have a monotonous ubiquity in US…
Phoenix airport launches autonomous service with Waymo
Phoenix airport launches autonomous service with Waymo 29 Dec 2022 Waymo also announced it is more than doubling the Waymo One service area in Downtown Phoenix. The expansion connects the airport service to a large part of the downtown area. In early November, Waymo began offering its trusted tester participants…
Energy efficiency investments jump in 2022 spurred by energy security concerns
Energy efficiency investments jump in 2022 spurred by energy security concerns Energize Weekly, December 28, 2022 Global investment in energy efficiency – from building renovations to public transport to electric vehicle infrastructure – increased 16 percent in 2022, reaching $560 billion as efficiency gains grew fourfold, according to the International…
Philadelphians welcomed PhilTel’s first free public phone as a small way to resist big tech
Philadelphians welcomed PhilTel’s first free public phone as a small way to resist big tech Dec 17, 2022 A group of about 20 tech-savvy engineers and programmers gathered Saturday afternoon at a Philadelphia bookstore to celebrate the installation of an old-fashioned public pay phone. Organizers of the project hope the…
Baltimore utility to deploy Itron smart streetlights
Baltimore utility to deploy Itron smart streetlights 12 Dec 2022 Baltimore Gas and Electric (BGE) is to deploy 260,000 smart streetlights as it bids to reduce energy consumption and enhance the wellbeing and safety of the community. Critical infrastructure solutions specialist Itron is working together with Maryland’s largest gas and…
Thornton has plenty of water – it’s just in the wrong place. And that’s a very Colorado story.
Thornton has plenty of water – it’s just in the wrong place. And that’s a very Colorado story. Dec 4, 2022 Thornton needs water. Developers are scrapping homebuilding projects out of fears that the city can’t guarantee them a water tap in the next few years. Thornton has water. It’s…
Highway charging stations for EVs may need as much electricity as a small town
Highway charging stations for EVs may need as much electricity as a small town Energize Weekly, November 30, 2022 A growing number of electric cars and trucks on highways will by 2035 require charging stations demanding the same power as an outdoor sports arena or even a small town, according…
Amtrak prepares for $1.5-billion Susquehanna River Rail Bridge replacement project
Amtrak prepares for $1.5-billion Susquehanna River Rail Bridge replacement project Nov. 22, 2022 Amtrak is advancing the planned replacement of the 116-year-old Susquehanna River Rail Bridge with two new bridges that will increase capacity and improve reliability of both freight and passenger trains. The existing structure is the Northeast Corridor’s…
Commuter Tunnel Under the Hudson Won’t Be Finished Until 2035
Commuter Tunnel Under the Hudson Won’t Be Finished Until 2035 Nov. 15, 2022 The long-delayed, $16 billion project to repair the existing Amtrak tunnels under the Hudson River and build a new two-track tunnel is about to move forward under the control of the Gateway Development Commission, which became the…
The infrastructure lobbying frenzy is just getting started
The infrastructure lobbying frenzy is just getting started 11/06/2022 The $1.2 trillion infrastructure law has kicked off a lobbying scramble by states, municipalities and industries seeking a slice of one of Washington’s biggest cash bonanzas in a generation. Those vying for a slice of the funding include Detroit, which obtained…
C40 and mayors offer US Inflation Reduction Act guidance
C40 and mayors offer US Inflation Reduction Act guidance 31 Oct 2022 Climate Mayors and C40 Cities have issued a guidebook to help local leaders understand the US Inflation Reduction Act and all the resources available to them through the law. The guidebook – supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies – advises…
FAA Clears New York Drone Corridor for Sightless Flights
FAA Clears New York Drone Corridor for Sightless Flights October 24, 2022 Last week the Federal Aviation Administration approved New York’s Unmanned Aircraft Systems Test Site (NUAIR) to fly uncrewed drones without supervision across 50 miles of airspace within the state’s drone corridor. In essence, this means that an uncrewed…
$1B Cybersecurity Grant Program Still Coming Into Focus
$1B Cybersecurity Grant Program Still Coming Into Focus OCTOBER 16, 2022 State and local governments are preparing to use $1 billion from the federal infrastructure law to improve cybersecurity. It marks the most significant federal support yet for protecting the computer networks and data of smaller governments. But many crucial…
A colder winter and higher energy prices will boost winter heating costs, EIA says
A colder winter and higher energy prices will boost winter heating costs, EIA says Energize Weekly, October 19, 2022 American households will pay more for natural gas, electricity, heating oil and propane to heat their homes, spurred by increased energy prices and the forecast of a colder winter, according to…
As electric vehicles shrink gas tax revenue, more states may tax mileage
As electric vehicles shrink gas tax revenue, more states may tax mileage OCTOBER 11, 2022 The increasing popularity of hybrid and electric vehicles is shrinking revenue from gas taxes, prompting more states to consider charging fees based on miles driven to help pay for roads and bridges. This year at…
Three Ways to Build Back Smarter After Hurricane Ian
Three Ways to Build Back Smarter After Hurricane Ian Oct. 3, 2022 The damage from Hurricane Ian will very likely run into the tens of billions of dollars and scientists say the United States can expect more severe storms like it as the planet heats up. They also say the…
Modular Construction Technology Comes Far and Fast During the Pandemic
Modular Construction Technology Comes Far and Fast During the Pandemic SEPTEMBER 27, 2022 Six years ago, 461 Dean Street — then and now the nation’s tallest modular apartment building at 32 stories — opened its doors on Flatbush Avenue in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn. The 363-unit tower had been plagued with…
Big NY, NJ Infrastructure Projects Advance With Renewed Momentum
Big NY, NJ Infrastructure Projects Advance With Renewed Momentum September 19, 2022 Signature transportation infrastructure projects across the New York and New Jersey region are accelerating, thanks to recent infusions of federal funding and successful efforts to break through political logjams. But as contractors and engineers spin up to meet…
Xcel property in Becker eyed for another big data center project
Xcel property in Becker eyed for another big data center project Sep 9, 2022 Xcel Energy Inc. plans to sell 348 acres of land at its Sherco location in Becker to an unknown company that could build a $1 billion data center project there. The utility said the new center…
Toxic arsenic levels make tap water unsafe for thousands in New York City
Toxic arsenic levels make tap water unsafe for thousands in New York City 6 Sep 2022 Dangerous levels of arsenic were found in a New York City Public Housing Authority (NYCHA) complex, leaving thousands of affected residents without safe tap water. The crisis plays out as people in the predominantly…
Massachusetts getting municipal infrastructure improvements
Massachusetts getting municipal infrastructure improvements August 30, 2022 Newly signed legislation in Massachusetts will provide millions for municipal infrastructure improvements. Earlier this month, Gov. Charlie Baker signed MassTRAC legislation into law to provide funding that is designed to prop up municipal infrastructure needs throughout the state with an $11.4 billion…
New apartment construction to match 50-year high
New apartment construction to match 50-year high Aug 22, 2022 Some 420,000 new apartments are expected to be completed in cities across the U.S. this year, marking a historic 50-year high in multifamily construction, according to data from the listing service RentCafe. Read more
PUC OK’s Eversource’s $2M EV infrastructure plan
PUC OK’s Eversource’s $2M EV infrastructure plan August 19, 2022 Earlier this week, Eversource had its $2.1 million “EV make-ready infrastructure program” approved by the Public Utilities Commission. The investment supports the state’s effort to create a fast charging corridor. Read more
$1.66B in grants for buses and bus facilities announced by Federal Transit Administration
$1.66B in grants for buses and bus facilities announced by Federal Transit Administration Aug. 16, 2022 The Federal Transit Administration today announced $1.66 billion in grants to transit agencies, territories and states for buses and bus facilities across the U.S. The agency said in a press release that the grants…
Urban wood movement looks to capture value, carbon from city trees
Urban wood movement looks to capture value, carbon from city trees 8/8/2022 When architect David Rousseau designed a manufacturing facility for Promega Corp., he specified a unique material for the lobby stairs: Walnut trees from the biotech company’s land. Cut for various reasons over the preceding decades, the trees had…
Federal Highway Administration announces $7.3B in grants for transportation resilience
Federal Highway Administration announces $7.3B in grants for transportation resilience Aug. 2, 2022 The Federal Highway Administration published new guidance last week for the $7.3 billion formula grant program created by the bipartisan infrastructure law to help states and communities prepare transportation infrastructure for extreme weather events and natural disasters.…
DOE signals intent to make building energy codes more efficient with $225M investment
DOE signals intent to make building energy codes more efficient with $225M investment July 25, 2022 Through a Notice of Intent (NOI) covering $225 million for state and local governments, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) last week moved to expand the implementation of the latest building energy codes and…
Waterloo becomes fourth city in the country to adopt carbon-free plan
Waterloo becomes fourth city in the country to adopt carbon-free plan Jul 18, 2022 The city of Waterloo has vowed to run on carbon-free electricity by 2035, making it the fourth city in the U.S. to adopt the pledge. The City Council voted unanimously to adopt a carbon-free electricity goal…
DOE to award over $40M for energy efficiency improvements
DOE to award over $40M for energy efficiency improvements July 12, 2022 The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) awarded over $40 million to 21 organizations and five state agencies for energy efficiency improvements. The funding comes from the $3.2 billion Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP), which was created to help repair,…
Virginia receives $219.8 million for broadband expansion
Virginia receives $219.8 million for broadband expansion Jul 5, 2022 The U.S. Department of the Treasury recently announced that Virginia is one of four states poised to expand access to rural high-speed internet service. Under the American Rescue Plan’s Coronavirus Capital Projects Fund, Virginia received $219.8 million, which represents 100%…
U.S. Jump-Starts Effort to Curb Residential CO2 Emissions
U.S. Jump-Starts Effort to Curb Residential CO2 Emissions June 27, 2022 The project will retrofit older homes and apartment buildings to be more energy efficient In 2010, the Dutch government launched a program to sharply cut carbon dioxide emissions from one of the world’s largest and most problematic sources: homes.…
Plenty of federal funding but labor shortages stymie infrastructure work
Plenty of federal funding but labor shortages stymie infrastructure work JUNE 21, 2022 Construction projects across the U.S. are running short on labor just as $1 trillion in federal infrastructure money starts to kick in, leading companies to get creative in their quest to attract and retain workers, according to…
Who are the most active PE investors in infrastructure?
Who are the most active PE investors in infrastructure? June 10, 2022 Private equity investors have been pouring more money into infrastructure funds in recent years, drawn by the steady cash flows and lower risk profile such assets offer. The expectation of increased opportunities in the US created by the…
Evers announces federal funding for 40 infrastructure projects
Evers announces federal funding for 40 infrastructure projects June 7, 2022 Roads across Wisconsin are set to see improvements. Governor Tony Evers announced $35 million worth of funding for 40 infrastructure projects throughout the state Tuesday. The money comes from the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Read more
U.S. Midwest in Danger of Rotating Power Blackouts This Summer
U.S. Midwest in Danger of Rotating Power Blackouts This Summer June 3, 2022 The power grid in the Central United States could be forced to impose rotating blackouts on some of the hottest days of the summer due to rising demand and plant retirements, federal energy officials said in an…
State Capitol stalemate could risk federal infrastructure dollars
State Capitol stalemate could risk federal infrastructure dollars MAY 30, 2022 Minnesota leaders have been anticipating an infusion of federal cash to bolster the state’s infrastructure — from bridges and roads to cybersecurity and drinking water pipes — on a scale not seen since the New Deal. But some of…
White House Says $110 Billion in Infrastructure Funds Released in First 6 Months
White House Says $110 Billion in Infrastructure Funds Released in First 6 Months May 16, 2022 The White House on Monday said it has released $110 billion in funding from the $1 trillion infrastructure package that seeks to fix crumbling roads, expand broadband internet and improve the electrical grid. Read…
High pump prices the result of a suite of market issues and not simply price gouging, study says
High pump prices the result of a suite of market issues and not simply price gouging, study says Energize Weekly, May 18, 2002 Oil companies have been in the crosshairs of lawmakers for either price gouging or not producing enough oil as gasoline pump prices have soared, but a new…
U.S. and European EV sales climb but more chargers will be needed to sustain growth
U.S. and European EV sales climb but more chargers will be needed to sustain growth Energize Weekly, May 11, 2022 Electric vehicle (EV) sales in both the U.S. and Europe are posting strong gains, but to reach the market penetration governments are targeting – the Biden administration goal is 50…
Brookfield Weighs Takeover of Data Center Firm Switch
Brookfield Weighs Takeover of Data Center Firm Switch May 03, 2022 Brookfield Asset Management Inc. is exploring a takeover of data center operator Switch Inc., according to people familiar with the matter. Read more
Biden to require infrastructure projects be made with U.S. iron, steel
Biden to require infrastructure projects be made with U.S. iron, steel April 18, 2022 The Biden administration is directing federal agencies to ensure that new construction projects funded by the $1.2 trillion infrastructure package are made with U.S.-made materials. Read more
Compute North breaks ground on 300MW data center in Granbury, Texas
Compute North breaks ground on 300MW data center in Granbury, Texas April 12, 2022 Compute North is building a 300MW data center at a gas-fired power plant in Texas. The blockchain & HPC data center firm has announced that construction is underway to build a 300MW data center next to…
‘The lights will not go out’ – Energy experts do not foresee EVs overloading US electrical grid
‘The lights will not go out’ – Energy experts do not foresee EVs overloading US electrical grid Apr. 5th 2022 According to research teams and engineers at multiple US energy laboratories, the acceleration of EV adoption will not reach any sort of “tipping” point in which charging EVs will overwhelm…
The Data Center of the Future
The Data Center of the Future 29 Mar 2022 The switch from on-premises data centers to the cloud has enabled companies to offload a lot of the complexity involved in maintaining a data center, providing access to computing, storage and network as a commodity. Yet this switch has created other…
How green rooftops can help cool off hot cities
How green rooftops can help cool off hot cities March 22, 2022 Recent research suggests that green roofs — rooftops covered with greenery or other sun-reflecting materials — can reduce heat in cities. City features like asphalt and concrete absorb and retain a significant amount of heat, creating what is known as…
Biden warns the private sector that Russia is exploring options for cyberattacks
Biden warns the private sector that Russia is exploring options for cyberattacks March 21, 2022 President Biden warned on Monday that Russia is exploring the possibility of waging potential cyberattacks against the United States in retaliation for economic penalties imposed on Moscow for the invasion of Ukraine. Read more
As electrification grows, car dealerships become prime candidates for microgrids
As electrification grows, car dealerships become prime candidates for microgrids March 14, 2022 US car dealerships are finding they need to upgrade their electrical infrastructure — and fast — given that more than half of their sales are expected to come from electric vehicles (EVs) before the decade is out. …
